MICHELIN® Introduces the Pilot® Road 3 Sport Touring Motorcycle Tire

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Jan. 10, 2011) – MICHELIN® enters into 2011 with the introduction of the Pilot® Road 3 tire, ideal for motorcycles as varied as the Honda VFR800, BMW R 1200 RT and Suzuki Bandit 1250S. Enhancing the company's Sport Touring Motorcycle Radial tire lineup, the Pilot Road 3 tire features the latest-generation 2CT dual-compound technology, with a soft rubber compound on the tread shoulders and a wear-resistant compound down the middle, and all-new "XST" X-Sipe technology. The MICHELIN Pilot Road 3 tire goes on sale in January 2011.

“As the Sport Touring Motorcycle tire market grows, Michelin responds with the new Pilot Road 3 tire,” said Gary Midkiff, vice president of Michelin North America’s two wheel division. “Tires in this segment have to be adaptable to many different types of motorcycles, as well as a variety of weather and riding conditions. With its XST X-Sipes, the Pilot Road 3 tire will be the benchmark of the Sport Touring Motorcycle Radial class.”

The most distinctive feature of the MICHELIN® Pilot Road 3 tire is its revolutionary new X-Sipe Technology (XST), which adds a unique look to the distinctive tread pattern pioneered on the MICHELIN® Pilot® Road 2 tire. The full-depth sipes help evacuate any water underneath the tire by allowing additional draining capacity of the tread as well as generate pressures at the edge of the sipe blade to break up water film. Besides offering superior wet traction, the XST sipes have the added benefit of promoting long tread life and even wear characteristics.

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin (www.michelin.com) designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs approximately 20,900 and operates 18 major manufacturing plants in 16 locations.

For more information about the MICHELIN® Pilot® Road 3 tire or the entire MICHELIN® Motorcycle tire lineup please visit www.michelinmotorcycle.com